Combined suspenders and belt.



No. 641,068. Patented Jan. 9,1900. H. .1. BLOOMER.

COMBINED SUSPENDERS AND BELT.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

j 7 7640? 3/00/0103 n J THE Noam: vz'rzas ca, Pnorouwo" WASNKNGTQN n c lUnrrn TATES HOWARD J. BLOOMER, OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED SUSPENDERS AND BELT.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,068, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed September 15,1899. Serial No. 730.646. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD J. BLOOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 33 Merwin street, Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Combined Suspenders and Belt, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a combined suspenders and belt adapted for use particularly by those requiring suspenders for the ordinary purposes of such devices and at other times desiring a belt when the suspenders would be an inconvenience or interfere with certain classes of Work and which would also present an unsightly appearance upon exposure by a necessary removal of a coat.

The improved device is capable of a wide range of use in various localities and by differentpersons either engage-din the labor of artisans generally or in ordinary business pursuits; but the particular intention and purpose of the same is to supply a device of such character that it will be capable of a dual use and quickly convertible from one form of device to the other without materially changing the arrangement of the necessary parts, and maintaining them in close movable relationship, and having a simple operation that can be easily comprehended.

The device was produced particularly for use in such institutions as have a large number of men or employees to whom rations are issued and having controlling rules and regulations that permit of the issue of a pair of suspenders or a belt separately to different ones, but not both to the same person at one time, and thus afford means of supplying the wants of the men or employees without infracting the governing rules or regulations pertaining to the issuance of supplies.

The invention is subject to a wide range of modification, and the exact features hereinafter set forth are to be understood to be but a practical embodiment of the principle upon which the dual device is based.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved device arranged as a pairof suspenders. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device shown arranged as a belt. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the right-hand member of the clasp, which alone also serves as a supporting device.

Fig. 4 is a similar View of the left-hand member of the clasp, which is also adapted to serve as a support. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the tab or suspender-end attaching loop. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a coupling device for the strap members.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate opposite strap members, which may be of any suitable dimension and material and having movable connection to an intermediate coupling 3, provided with an attaching member 4. The straps 1 and 2 are each provided with two sets of holes or punctures 5 and 6, located near the opposite extremities, and the front terminals of said straps are attached to adj ustingbuckles or analogous devices 7 to adapt the said straps to be looped or doubled and changed in length to arrange them for the dual purpose they are intended to serve. On the doubled straps side loops 8 are adjustably fit ted and intended to confine the opposite members 9 and 10 of combined clasps and supports, which are carried at the front portions of said straps in either arrangement. The said member 9 of the clasp has an attaching-loop 11, from which extend converging arms 12, which terminate in a rebent outstanding bill 13. The said hill is projected over the open space between the arms 12, and the proportions of the parts will be varied as desired. The member 10 of the clasp also comprises a loop 14 for loose engagement with its strap and. from which extend apair of closely-drawn parallel arms 15, having a predetermined length and merging into a divergent portion of a bill 16,

which is adapted to interlock with the bill 13,

parts of the improved dual device are arranged for use as a belt, the buckles 7 are moved back for adjustable engagement with the series of openings or punctures 6, adjacent the rear extremities of the said strap-sections.

When the improved device is arranged as a pair of suspenders, the buckles 7 are moved forward to adapt them for adjustable engagement with the series of openings or punctures 5, and the two straps at the rear are brought closely together, being cut away at their innercorners to permitaproper jointure or close arrangement for the purposes of suspenders. Suspender ends or tabs are then connected up to the clasp members 9 and 10, and each tab or end has an attaching-loop 17, which is of elongated form and adapted to be applied to the bills of the said clasp members either inside the opposite parts of the same, as shown by-dotted lines in Fig. 4, or over said bills, as shown by Fig. 1, and the tabs 18 themselves are of the ordinary form of such devices. Tabs or rear ends 19 are removably connected to the attaching member 4. of the coupling, and the device will then be in readiness for convenient use as a pair of suspenders and as clearly shown by Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact form of the tabs and loops therefor or of the clamps themselves, as the object in view is to provide for a quick disconnection and after rapid assemblage in the conversion of the parts of the device from one arrangement to another.

When the parts are arranged as a belt, the tabs or ends 18 may be left attached to the buttons or other trouser-attaching devices at the usual attaching-points and then turned down and the attaching-loops 17 caught bya button or other device, to thereby provide a guide-loop on each side for the belt, as well as at the rear, where the tabs or ends 19 may be in like manner arranged, and thus serve to hold the belt in position and brace the same.

The form of intermediate coupling 3 shown by Fig. 6 is intended to replace that shown by Figs. 1 and 2, and the difierence of construction resides in bringing the terminals of the material of which the device is formed upwardly into the attaching member 4 and suitably connecting them, if desired, as shown by dotted lines.

Changes in the form, proportions,and minor details of construction and arrangement of the parts other than those noted may be resorted to without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. A combined belt and pair of suspenders, consisting of two main parts or straps movably connected at their rear extremities by an intermediate coupling, and fastenings freely movable on the front terminals of the said main parts or straps having removably-interlocking ends to form a clasp, one of said fas teners having a reduced neck and open bill and the other an open neck and reduced bill to removably fit in the open bill, the said fastenings being disposed in the same plane when interlocked and adapted to receive, together with the coupling, Suspender-ends.

2. A combined belt and pair of suspenders, consisting of two main parts having doubled portions for lengthening and shortening the same, means for maintaining the desired adjustment of the said parts, a coupling to which the single extremities have movable attachment, and fastening devices loosely held by the folded extremities of the said main parts and adapted to extend outwardly clear of the latter, said fastenings having removably-interlocking members at their outer extremities in the same plane when interlocked to form a connecting-clasp without interior projections when the device is arranged in belt form, one of said fasteners havinga reduced neck and open bill and the other an open neck and reduced bill to removably fit in the open bill, the said fastenings and coupling also having means for quick application and release of Suspender-ends.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD J. BLOOMER.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. S. HYER, W. PERRY HAHN. 

